Image Source: Visual China

BEIJING, March 7 (TMTPOST) — Popular video sharing platform TikTok announced on Sunday that it has temporarily suspended video livestream and video uploading functions because the company is reviewing the new media law signed off by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“In light of Russia’s new ‘fake news’ law, we have no choice but to suspend livestreaming and new content to our video service while we review the safety implications of this law,” TikTok writes on Twitter. “Our in-app messaging service will not be affected.”

TikTok spokesperson Hilary McQuaide said the TikTok app in Russia now appears in “view-only” mode and will not allow people to post or see new videos or livestreams. They can still see existing videos, but not if they came from outside the country, McQuaide said.

Putin signed off the fake news law last Friday, which punishes people with cash fines up to 1.5 million rubles (around US$14,000) or up to 15 years behind bars for knowingly spreading false information and data about the Russian army or for publicly calling for sanctions on Russia. The law was passed by the lower chamber of Russia’s parliament last Friday.

Russia has started to crack down on many foreign social media platforms and media, such as Facebook and Twitter. The country has also banned access to BBC news sites. Many foreign media platforms have announced that they will suspend broadcasting in Russia as a result. CNN and CBS News said they would stop broadcasting in the country. Some other outlets have removed Russia-based journalists’ bylines to avoid troubles, according to a news report by Nikkei Asia.

Video streaming platform Netflix has also suspended its services in Russia on Sunday though it did not specify reasons for the decision. Netflix only said that the decision to suspend services in Russia was a response to “circumstances on the ground.”

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